By Aaron Bell
Several Ontario Hockey League stars are anxious to get the opportunity to test out their game against a touring team of Russian Selects in the SUBWAY Super Series, which moves to Ontario this week for games in Barrie on Thursday and Windsor on Monday.
The CHL's Canada-Russia showcase event is the final stepping stone before the final selection camp for Team Canada's entry at the World Junior Championships, which open on Boxing Day in Saskatoon, SK.
Kingston Frontenacs' forward Ethan Werek is one of several players that hope to use this showcase event as an opportunity to show the Team Canada brass that they are ready for a spot on that roster.
Werek was named the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week and seems to be peaking at a good time to make an impression in this series.
"It's a great honour," Werek said about being selected to the OHL roster for the event. "I'll just go into that game and really play a hard game. Play in both ends and hopefully make an impact."
Werek has already competed for Canada at the International level. He played in the 2009 IIHF Under-18 World Championships. His teammate sophomore defenceman Erik Gudbranson also played in that event and despite being just 17-years-old, Gudbranson is also hoping to earn a ticket to Canada's final selection camp.
"It's absolutely an honour," said Gudbranson. "Something like that is so big in Canadian minds. It's something special and to be recognized for something that I love doing is definitely special."
Barrie Colts' captain Stefan Della Rovere used a terrific performance in the Canada-Russia challenge last year to earn a spot in the final selection camp. He said that he is looking forward to competing in the series again this year, especially on home ice at the Barrie Molson Centre.
“Last season I really had to simplify my game,” Della Rovere told The Barrie Advance. “Play the body, finish your checks and really focus on the defensive side of things.”
Gudbranson said that playing in this event will help him measure himself up to the other players on the OHL roster as well as the Russian lineup that boasts several players that are likely to see action at the World Juniors.
"It's something that everyone strives for - to play with and against top players like that," Gudbranson said. "In terms of development it's going to help a lot. Just getting the exposure is going to be helpful."
Gudbranson also wore the Maple Leaf when he represented Ontario in the World Under-17 Challenge last year and said that he will use that experience when he suits up in the SUBWAY Super Series.
"(We're) just going in and playing a Canadian style of hockey," Gudbranson said. "That's what we did in the Under-18s and it works wonders. Playing against the Russians - one thing is to play the body. That's something that I like to do so I'm looking forward to that."
At practice, Team OHL Head Coach Dave Cameron of the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors discussed his thoughts on the series against the Russians, and players Stefan Della Rovere of the Barrie Colts, Shawn Lalonde of the Belleville Bulls, and Christian Thomas of the Oshawa Generals also provided comments on the series.
The game will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet with broadcast times available at www.subwaysuperseries.com
Fans can also see the game live on pay-per-view webcast through INSINC at http://chl.insinc.com/canadavsrussia/
